Israeli Arab political factions blast American opposition to Palestinian UN bid-Major Arab political parties in Israel criticized the United States' "blind support" for Israel, in the last moment leading up to the Palestinian statehood bid in the United Nations.
Despite heavy pressure from the West, Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas confirmed Friday that he will make an official request to the UN demanding full membership after his address to the General Assembly.
U.S. President Barack Obama has on several occasions stated his objection to the Palestinian move.
Mohammad Zeidan, chairman of the High Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel, described the expected veto as a total bias and blind American action behind Israeli policy.
If the U.S. wielded the veto, "it will be in fact voting against Obama's own declaration (to advance Israeli-Palestinian peace),"
According to Abed Elhakim Mofid, a representative of the Committee's northern branch, "Both American and Israeli opposition to the Palestinian bid will lead to chaos and violence in the region, making the possibility of peace more distant, if not impossible."
Abbas' efforts to seek UN recognition have been supported by main Israeli Arab political parties, most of whom have previously backed the Oslo Accord. The factions, after seeing no tangible outcome from the peace talks that have lasted for almost two decades, concluded that the room for peace negotiations is becoming more and more limited.
The UN bid is an opportunity for the Palestinian leadership to take a stand and send a message to its people, as well as the U.S. and Israel. Although many Arab leaders are not sure whether the move will bear fruits, they believe that it will promote the solidarity among the Palestinians, and further marginalize the U.S. foreign policy in the region.
"It's the Israeli unilateralism that has driven the Palestinians to take a unilateral path to the UN," Zeidan said.
"Obama, who may reject any recognition of a Palestinian state, should keep in mind that the Palestinian appeal to the international community could very well be the last chance to save the two-state solution," Zeidan added.
Despite heavy pressure from the West, Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas confirmed Friday that he will make an official request to the UN demanding full membership after his address to the General Assembly.
U.S. President Barack Obama has on several occasions stated his objection to the Palestinian move.
Mohammad Zeidan, chairman of the High Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel, described the expected veto as a total bias and blind American action behind Israeli policy.
If the U.S. wielded the veto, "it will be in fact voting against Obama's own declaration (to advance Israeli-Palestinian peace),"
According to Abed Elhakim Mofid, a representative of the Committee's northern branch, "Both American and Israeli opposition to the Palestinian bid will lead to chaos and violence in the region, making the possibility of peace more distant, if not impossible."
Abbas' efforts to seek UN recognition have been supported by main Israeli Arab political parties, most of whom have previously backed the Oslo Accord. The factions, after seeing no tangible outcome from the peace talks that have lasted for almost two decades, concluded that the room for peace negotiations is becoming more and more limited.
The UN bid is an opportunity for the Palestinian leadership to take a stand and send a message to its people, as well as the U.S. and Israel. Although many Arab leaders are not sure whether the move will bear fruits, they believe that it will promote the solidarity among the Palestinians, and further marginalize the U.S. foreign policy in the region.
"It's the Israeli unilateralism that has driven the Palestinians to take a unilateral path to the UN," Zeidan said.
"Obama, who may reject any recognition of a Palestinian state, should keep in mind that the Palestinian appeal to the international community could very well be the last chance to save the two-state solution," Zeidan added.
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